Foxtel dumps music channels | Chris Carter fails better
It’s getting to be like the town in Footloose over on Australia’s Foxtel. The pay TV company has confirmed that it is dumping Paramount-owned music channels MTV Hits, Nick Music, MTV Club, MTV 80s, and CMT music channels.
At the end of the day, decisions like this are a result of considering expense vs audience interest in the channels. But even so, I’m left wondering just how bare bones Foxtel can get.
Surely servicing niche audiences with channels like this is why people subscribe - if Foxtel is touching upon 2-3 of your specific interests, then you keep the service. If only one of your interests is being met and you aren’t super passionate about it (or you can get it elsewhere), then you go elsewhere. There’s a danger of getting too lean.
Foxtel note that the VEVO channels are available as IP-delivered channels. That’s better than nothing (and, real talk: I think the curation on those VEVO channels is better anyway).
Read more about the decision at Rolling Stone.
Chris Carter fails better with David Duchovny
Fans of The X-Files will want to listen to this interview on David Duchovny’s podcast with series creator Chris Carter. The two get honest about some of Carter’s professional failures and talk about their screaming fights on the set of the show.
Also, Carter reveals that he has just been given the greenlight on a directors cut of that awful second X-Files movie. Maybe it could have been better when kept closer to Carter’s vision?
Quote of The Day
Here’s David E. Kelley with some very pointed words at TV executives. He made the comment during a speech at the 2025 Gotham TV Awards. It’s worth noting that his 90s dramas Chicago Hope and Picket Fences both aired on CBS.
CBS’ parent company Paramount Global currently has lawyers negotiating a pay-off to the US President over an edit made in an interview with Kamala Harris on CBS news show 60 Minutes.
“Every day when I wake up and get to do this job, I know how lucky I am, and all of us are lucky to do what we do,” he said, noting how it feels to be part of the creative community at gatherings like The Gothams.
Which is “perhaps why I’m a little disappointed with some of the compromises and capitulations being taken by some of our corporate industry partners,” he said to a big applause.
News Desk
Indie comics publisher Twisted Comics has a Kickstarter to fund comic book adaptations of Black Mirror episodes. No, I don’t quite understand who needs that either… the episodes are right there to be watched… Read: Kickstarter
BBC chief Tim Davie has spoken about the need to protect IP while also working in partnerships with US tech giants. Interesting comments in light of the likely upcoming rest of kids favourite Doctor Who following a partnership with Disney. Read: THR
Sony has struck multi-year streaming deals for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! to stream on Peacock and Hulu in the US the day after broadcast. No word yet on international deals for the show. Read: Deadline
Slow Horses is back Sept 24 on Apple TV+ for the fifth season.
Police say that there is no evidence that the murder of Jonathan Joss was a hate crime. Read: People
Interesting chat with The Handmaid’s Tale’s Amanda Brugel who wrote a thesis on her character 20 years before starring on the show. Read: THR
There’s something beyond lovely about George Clooney’s supportive comments about Noah Wyle and his new show The Pitt. Read: TV Insider
Following a big auction (no details have been announced beyond that), Netflix has landed the comedy spec Starf*ckers from writer Heather Regnier. Read: Deadline
When The Sandman returns on Netflix for it’s second and final season, it will end with a bonus episode focused on the character Death. Read: Polygon
WBD shareholders have rejected David Zaslav’s next pay bump. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
We Were Liars debuts on Prime Video June 18.
We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed the Liars, during their summer escapades on her grandfather's New England private island. The Sinclairs are American royalty - known for their good looks, old money, and enviable bond - but after a mysterious accident changes Cadence's life forever, everyone, including her beloved Liars, seems to have something to hide.
My Mom Jayne debuts on Max June 27.
In her feature film directorial debut - and the first time she has delved into her mother Jayne Mansfield's story - Mariska Hargitay searches for the mother she never knew almost six decades after the Hollywood legend's tragic death.
7 Bears debuts on Netflix July 10.
Seeking to be heroes, a clumsy troupe of bear siblings decide to help fairytale characters in need - but their good deeds often turn into disasters.
The Guilded Age returns for season 3 June 22 on Max (Paramount+ in Australia at a date TBC).
That’s the newsletter for today. Sorry it was a bit late. I neglected to schedule a send time for it.
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